Firtash released on bail in Austria

The Land Court of Vienna released Ukrainian tycoon Dmytro Firtash on 125mn euro bail he pledged in 2014.

On 21 February, the Higher Regional Court in Vienna allowed the extradition of Firtash to the United States. The court granted the prosecutor's appeal against the decision of the Land Court of Vienna issued on April 30, 2015. The trial court refused extradition, citing the inability to eliminate the political component of the US request.

The final decision on extradition is up the Minister of Justice of Austria, Wolfgang Brandstetter.

On the same day, Firtash was detained on a warrant issued by Spain on money laundering charges. Technically, the detention was not in connection with a court decision to allow the extradition to the US. On 23 February, the Regional Court of Vienna refused to grant the request to the prosecutor's office about the arrest Firtash on the Spanish extradition warrant.

The businessman remained in custody, as the court has had to consider the measure of restraint pending the authorities' decision on his extradition to the United States.

Coming elections and a drive for closer ties with Russia may have prompted the Hungarian prime minister to take on an unusually hostile tone towards Ukraine after its parliament adopted a new law on education.

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